The head of Catholic Church, Pope Francis has called on all Catholic Bishops to welcome LGBTQ people stating that homosexuality is not a crime.
Reiterating that God loves all his children, Pope Francis criticized the laws criminalizing homosexuality calling it unjust.
“Being homosexual isn’t a crime,” he said and called on Catholic bishops who support the anti-gay laws to welcome LGBTQ people into the church.
Speaking to Associated Press on Tuesday, Pope Francis acknowledged that Catholic bishops in some parts of the world support laws that criminalize homosexuality or discriminate against the LGBTQ community, and he referred to the issue in terms of “sin.” But he attributed such attitudes to cultural backgrounds and said bishops in particular need to undergo a process of change to recognize the dignity of everyone.
“These bishops have to have a process of conversion,” he said, adding that they should apply “tenderness, please, as God has for each one of us.”